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18thrd Dec 2012www.bangkokbikesrental.com). They had various two wheeler options from 125cc scooters, 250 dual sports to 650cc touring and their motorcycles were well maintained. For a small additional fee they also provide helmets, bags, GPS, onboard video cameras, etc. Third-party insurance underwritten is included in their service.
BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI
After a quick Thai language lesson, buying the map, fixing the GPS, loading my luggage, understanding the route and putting on safety gear, I pressed the start button. I was riding alone, just like my previous trips. This time as well my friend backed out due to certain personal / professional commitments. But unlike last time I was more confident about riding solo. Riding alone in an unknown land CHIANG MAI, THE MOTORCYCLE CITYhiang means City in Thai, while mai is new, hence Chiang Mai or New City was so-named because it was the new capital) in the capital of the Lanna kingdom. Sections of the wall were restored, along with the remains of gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains. The moat was designed to keep the Burmese from seizing the city. Now the city has expanded much beyond these Moats but these moats makes the city look very beautiful and helped me figure out my directions easily!
Being the second largest city of Thailand, Chiang Mai is also the largest and culturally significant in northern Thailand. Multiple live music, open air restaurants around Ping River gives it a tranquil feel. As I was finding my way out of city centre, I came across a familiar sound of multiple Harley Davidsons roaring in one corner of the walled city.
I eventually checked in a hotel called The Xym, thanks to a local biker, who played interpreter. I was a tired but stepped out to check the night market. Chiang Mai has a large and famous night bazaar for local arts and handicrafts. The night bazaar sprawls across several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds and in open squares. I also got to know that there is a specific handicraft, silver market also organized on weekends.
I decided to spend the next day in Chiang Mai, exploring the city. By now I had figured that Chiang Mai was popular amongst group of bikers, especially in this time of the year (Nov-Feb)jugaadmore than 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan and Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away.
This is a place where both backpackers and luxury tourists can enjoy the ultimate Thailand holiday, as the city is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to experience both historical and modern Thai culture coexisting side by side: the city features centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. No wonder Chiang Mai is the only tourist destination in Thailand to have made it in to the 2012 list of "25 Best Destinations in the World" of the popular travel website Trip Advisor.
By evening various open air eating joints come to life. Full of flavored food most of these places have live music performance and lot of them have fresh vegetables / meat on display to choose from. I met the biker girl again who had helped me at the hotel one night before. She agreed to show me around some good live music places and also told me about various motorcycle routes around Chiang Mai, not to miss that she agreed to let me take her CBR for a spin. I wondered if that was because of Thai hospitality or may be female riders are not so possessive about their machines. This was a slightly old machine but loved the sporty seating posture, sweet sounding in-line four cylinder engine produced pleasing power throughout its rev range.
BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI
After a quick Thai language lesson, buying the map, fixing the GPS, loading my luggage, understanding the route and putting on safety gear, I pressed the start button. I was riding alone, just like my previous trips. This time as well my friend backed out due to certain personal / professional commitments. But unlike last time I was more confident about riding solo. Riding alone in an unknown land CHIANG MAI, THE MOTORCYCLE CITYhiang means City in Thai, while mai is new, hence Chiang Mai or New City was so-named because it was the new capital) in the capital of the Lanna kingdom. Sections of the wall were restored, along with the remains of gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains. The moat was designed to keep the Burmese from seizing the city. Now the city has expanded much beyond these Moats but these moats makes the city look very beautiful and helped me figure out my directions easily!
Being the second largest city of Thailand, Chiang Mai is also the largest and culturally significant in northern Thailand. Multiple live music, open air restaurants around Ping River gives it a tranquil feel. As I was finding my way out of city centre, I came across a familiar sound of multiple Harley Davidsons roaring in one corner of the walled city.
I eventually checked in a hotel called The Xym, thanks to a local biker, who played interpreter. I was a tired but stepped out to check the night market. Chiang Mai has a large and famous night bazaar for local arts and handicrafts. The night bazaar sprawls across several city blocks along footpaths, inside buildings and temple grounds and in open squares. I also got to know that there is a specific handicraft, silver market also organized on weekends.
I decided to spend the next day in Chiang Mai, exploring the city. By now I had figured that Chiang Mai was popular amongst group of bikers, especially in this time of the year (Nov-Feb)jugaadmore than 30 temples dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan and Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine and angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas and pagodas laced with gold filigree. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away.
This is a place where both backpackers and luxury tourists can enjoy the ultimate Thailand holiday, as the city is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to experience both historical and modern Thai culture coexisting side by side: the city features centuries-old chedis and temples next to modern convenience stores and boutique hotels. No wonder Chiang Mai is the only tourist destination in Thailand to have made it in to the 2012 list of "25 Best Destinations in the World" of the popular travel website Trip Advisor.
By evening various open air eating joints come to life. Full of flavored food most of these places have live music performance and lot of them have fresh vegetables / meat on display to choose from. I met the biker girl again who had helped me at the hotel one night before. She agreed to show me around some good live music places and also told me about various motorcycle routes around Chiang Mai, not to miss that she agreed to let me take her CBR for a spin. I wondered if that was because of Thai hospitality or may be female riders are not so possessive about their machines. This was a slightly old machine but loved the sporty seating posture, sweet sounding in-line four cylinder engine produced pleasing power throughout its rev range.
. Kab Jaa Raha hai???
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